THE WEEK AHEAD

ISLAMABAD : Trials To Start

Corruption trials against members of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's government are expected to begin this week in some of 11 special courts set up by the military-backed interim government which ousted her a month ago.

The government says Bhutto will also be charged, although she denies any wrongdoing and calls her dismissal illegal. She says the tribunals are "kangaroo courts" and adds that she and other members of her Pakistan People's Party will refuse to submit to them.

The tribunals are empowered to mete out jail terms of up to seven years for "misconduct," but their more important function appears to be blocking a Bhutto victory in new elections set for Oct. 24.